Having been busy sorting out upper echelons of the National League System (formerly the pyramid), the Football Association is about to turn its attention to leagues in the real grassroots area.

Later this month, at North-umberland FA's headquarters at Benton, a meeting has been called to kick off the consultation stage for future reorganisation of leagues in the region.

These talks involve interested parties from Cumbria and, in our region, officials of the Northern Alliance and Wearside Leagues.

These two competitions are in parallel at Level 7 of the National League System, with an established link to the Arngrove Northern League at the next highest level.

It is possibly too early for conjecture but the position of Cumbrian clubs could be on the agenda with that county having members currently occupied in both the Wearside and Alliance.

There is some imbalance between these two competitions in the region.

The FA recently prevented the Wearside League from forming a second division while the Northern Alliance has continued to operate with a three-division set-up.

Last weekend's weather caused 13 postponements in the Alliance which seemed to be hit harder than other competitions in the region for some reason.

The only league game to beat the freeze in the Premier Division was at Cochrane Park, where Newcastle University claimed their first home win.

The students beat Murton 4-2 to end the three-match winning run of their visitors. Murton scored first and last through Anthony Dobell and Ian Craggs but in the interim the University's Emerson Hanley completed a hat-trick and David Stent was also on target.

Three ties got played in the Bosch Power Tools Challenge Cup and holders Team Northumbria just managed to clear their second round hurdle.

Entertaining Heaton Stannington, the only team to have beaten them in the league this season, the Northumbrians clinched a narrow 2-1 verdict.

Heaton's Andrew Weeks equalised after the break to cancel out Paul Dixon's first half opener for the home side but Dixon's second strike in 70 minutes settled the issue.

Ponteland United made progress and at the same time avenged their earlier league defeat by cup visitors Northbank. This time United won 3-0 but had to wait until extra-time for their goals.

Paul Horsfall got them off the mark to end the stalemate. The lead was doubled by John Redhead and to make sure Craig Potter claimed Ponteland's third goal.

Despite their disappointment at the outcome at the Leisure Centre Ground, Northbank will have been happy with the performance after losing the services of four key players. Brothers Chris and Ian Grainger, Mike Swift and Graham Wilson have all moved north to join up with Annan in Scotland.

After winning 4-1 in the identical league game Blyth Town, currently in pole position in the Premier Division, came a cropper in the cup and were beaten 3-2 at home by Seaton Delaval.

Martyn Hepple's early opener should have given Blyth a boost but for long periods they were outplayed. Mark Fenwick has been a valuable signing for Delaval and he got them back on level terms within five minutes. The same player bagged another two goals after the break and leave Blyth facing an uphill struggle.

It was deep into injury time when Jonathan Mann replied for the Town.

In the single league encounter in the First Division, there was a 3-1 victory for Wallsend against Hebburn Reyrolle to maintain their unbeaten home record.

The result also hoisted Wallsend into pole position as they nudged out previous leaders Ashington Colliers. David Moat, Dan Olusoga and Michael Sutcliffe were the Wallsend marksmen, with David Thornton replying for Hebburn.

Only one of three ties in the First Division's Combination Cup got the go-ahead and Cramlington Town were unlucky to finish as losers in their thrilling tie at home to Wallington. Stephen Spoors scored his first goal for Cramlington to give them a fifth minute lead but Ashley McAlpine bagged a brace in reply to give Wallington the initiative.

Andrew Millar netted to earn the home side an extra-time reprieve but it ended goal-less and Wallington were 4-2 victors in the ensuing penalty shoot-out.

In the only league encounter in the Second Division, there was an end to Lowick's recent lean spell when they beat Chemfica 4-1 despite trailing at the interval to Jim Wright's opener.

Simon Laidlaw's leveller got the visitors back on track and, dominating the later stages, Lowick had Darren Emery parcelling up the points with a second half hat-trick.

The two ties in the Swan Office Systems Amateur Cup managed to beat the freeze and there were victories for Red Row Welfare and Stocksfield.

The latter were impressive in beating hosts Sport Benfield 4-1 with goals shared by Andy Lowdon, Richard Myers, Ben Pearson and Mark Innes. Paul Main replied for the losers.

Red Row Welfare also won away from home and made progress in the Second Division Cup by beating Adderstone Jesmond 3-2. Both of Adderstone's goals were put away by Andy Wilson but his efforts were in vain.

The Welfare completed a league and cup double over the Jesmond outfit with strikes by Ronnie Warwick, Stuart Dunn and Craig Keen.